Potato-digger



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. LOREE. POTATO BIGGER.

Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

N4 PERES. Phnm-Liuwgnphar. Wamingtan. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

(No Model.)

J'. W. LOREE.

' POTATO BIGGER. No. 401,285. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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@mik/waage@ UNITED STATES JOHN IV. LOREE, OF FENWIICK, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO D. lV. LOREE,

PATENT Orifice.

OF RID (rElVAY, MICHIGAN.

DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,285, dated April 9, 1889.

Application iiled July 9, 1888. Serial No. 279,418. {No model.)

To all wiz/0122, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN `W. LOREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fenwick, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Potato-Diggers; and I do declare the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention has relation to machines for digging potatoes, and it may be adapted for digging peanuts and the like.

The improvements will be fully understood from the following' description and claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the saine. Fig 3 is a sectional detail View, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the endless chain or carrier.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the main frame, which is of a rectangular form and composed of side and transverse beams, the latter of which are provided about midway of their length with verticallydisposed loops a, to receive the draft-beam B. These loops are extended sniciently above and below the said frame A to permit of the draft-beam being moved therein to accomn10- date the same in the adjustment of the machine to the draft-animals.

C indicate the supporting and driving wheels, which are provided with a pinion or drum, l), and their spindles are formed on one branch of an angular lever, D. This leverD, as more fully shown in. Fig. l of the drawings, is pivoted at its angle to the outer` side of the side beams of the main frame, and has its vertical branch carried up within convenient reach of the driver. It should be observed that the pinion or pulley l) is fixed to the axle or center or hub of the main drivingwheel, there being one on each side of the machine.

E indicate segmental racks, there being one fixed in a vertical position to the upper edge of each side rail of the main frame, and are designed to .receive a spring-actuated dog on the hand-lever or vertical branch of the angular lever I). It will thus be seen that by releasing the dog from engagement with the segmental rack the levers may be moved to or from the driver, and the main f rame caused 5 5 to raise or lower by the elevating and depressing of the supperting-wheels, which are journaled on spindles extending laterally from the lower branch of the angular levers.

Journaled in the rear et' the main frame A 6o is a transverse shaft, F, which. is provided at one end with a gear-wheel, G, and at is opposite end with a chain wheel or pulley, H, for a purpose which will be presentlyT explained.

Depending from the shaft F are hangers d, 6 5

the lower ends of which terminate in eyes to receive a lower transverse shaft, I, carrying pinions on its opposite ends, and it has also fixed to it an intermediate pinion, c.

The forward end of the main frame is pro- 7o vided at. each corner with a depending arm,

f, and secured to the lower ends of the arms is the forward end ot' longitudinal side guards, K, the rear ends of which may be sustained by the reartransverse shaft, I, or an interme- 75 diate arm, L, the latter being preferred. The rear transverse shaft, I, has a chain wheel or pinion, e, similar to the one previously mentioned, and both are designed to receive an endless chain, which will be presently eX- 8o usually arranged about one and one-quarter 9c inch apart, although the distance may be varied. The portions bearing the eye or perforation are so arranged to receive the chainwheels between them in operation, and it is obvious that each link may have two or more 95 eyes, according to the distance at which it is desired to place the transverse rods. These rods V have shoulders NV at a suliicient distance from their ends, so as to engage the inner sides of the links, as shown. I attach imroo The cross-bars have hooks R formed 85 portance to the employment of this endless elevator and to its peculiar mode of con struction. It will be seen from the illustration that it may be readily lengthened or shortened, and should any of the cross-rods become impaired they may be readily removed and repla'ced by others.

In the forward ends of the side guards, K, is journaled a shaft, which is also provided at opposite ends with pulleys or chain-wheels g, which also receive the endless elevator and sustain its forward portion.

P indicates the plow or blade, which is at the lower ends of the side guards, K, and may be of the usual construction, it being designed to raise the potatoes from their beds and direct them to the endless carrier, which assumes an inclined position. It will be observed that as the machine is carried along the field in operation the frictional contact of the supporting-Wheels with the earth will rotate them, and the small gears or pulleys being fixed to the supporting-wheels will of course receive a similar motion, which motion, `by means of an endless chain or belt, R, passing over the wheel II,Ywill impart a rotary motion to the shaft F and the gear-wheel G thereon, which latter will communicate its motion, through the medium of the pinion on the shaft I, to the chainvwheels or pinions e and drive the endless elevator.

Then it is desirable to lower the plow, the same can be conveniently accomplished by the driver manipulating the hand so as to depress or elevate the supporting-wheels.

Having described my invention, what I claim ishaving the vertical loops, as described, of the angular levers D, pivote/d to the said frame and carrying spindles at their lower branches, the supporting-wheels having fixed pulleys or gears and arranged on the spindles of the angular levers, the segmental racks on the main frame, an endless elevator, and the shaft I, receiving the endless elevator, the shaft F, and the intermeshing gears on the respective shafts, substantially as specified.

3. The endless elevator composed of the links having cross-bars at one end and hooks at the opposite ends and eyes between the hooks and cross-bars, and the transverse rods having shoulders near their opposite ends and adapted to enter the eyes in the links, the

whole designed to serve in a machine for digging. potatoes or peanuts, substantially as specified. i

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN XV. LOREE.

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GEO. NV. EITELBUss, O. O. OsBoRN. 

